Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread)

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:53 am

Purely for fun, I thought we'd try some comparisons of characters sharing names and M.O's.

First up: who is better, The Wizard (the DC comics villain)

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Wizarddc_zpsc646c738

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Wizarddc_zpsc646c738

Or The Wizard (the Marvel comics villain)

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Wizard_zpsd6db77ae

by Lucy Ingram Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:43 pm

DC version less likely to make superheroes die laughing.

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:48 pm

You dare mock the Wingless Wizard? (yes, he did call himself that)

by Lucy Ingram Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:57 am

What's he gonna do — headbutt me to death?

by **tony ingram** Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:18 am

Lucy McGough wrote:What's he gonna do — headbutt me to death?

His usual M.O was to affix an anti-gravity disc to his opponent which would send them hurtling uncontrollably into the upper atmosphere.
Or to get his mate the Trapster to immobilise them with his paste gun.

by Lucy Ingram Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:58 pm

tony ingram wrote:His usual M.O was to affix an anti-gravity disc to his opponent which would send them hurtling uncontrollably into the upper atmosphere.

That actually does sound pretty scary. What can the other guy do?

by **tony ingram** Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:05 pm

DC's Wizard? He was originally just an illusionist, but he later became a genuine sorcerer, though not a particularly powerful one except when he had his Power Stone, Power Glove and Cloak of Invisibility. He was the leader of the Injustice Society and of one incarnation of the Secret Society of Super Villains.

They're actually both mostly team players. Marvel's Wizard is the leader of the Frightful Four.

by Lucy Ingram Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:19 am

"Power Stone" *snigger*

DC's Wizard obviously no match for Zatanna et al. I'd say the bigger threat would be Marvel's version, especially if you have a fear of heights. Which, admittedly, no flying superhero has....

Oh crumbs, they're BOTH rubbish. Next!

by **tony ingram** Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:27 am

Two characters who are both variations on a classic Golden Age character:

Shazam (DCnU)

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Shazam_zpsc713e840

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Shazam_zpsc713e840

or Marvelman

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) MMCLASS2_zps565870d5

by Lucy Ingram Sat Jun 14, 2014 10:47 am

First one looks better. Second one looks like he's being sponsored by M&Ms.

by **tony ingram** Sat Jun 14, 2014 4:56 pm

Philistine...

by Sam_Vimes Sat Jun 14, 2014 7:04 pm

If it were the original Captain Marvel then I'd say him, but since you specified "Shazam" it's gotta be Marvelman. And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?

by **tony ingram** Sat Jun 14, 2014 7:06 pm

Sam_Vimes wrote:And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?

It's probably a reasonably safe assumption that he was designed for just such a purpose. Razz

by Lucy Ingram Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:35 am

tony ingram wrote:Philistine...

Yeah, that's me Very Happy

OTOH, 'Shazam' sounds like a cleaning product.

by Philip K Ditko Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:48 pm

Who's better?

Venomm
Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Venomm

or Venom

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) 347-1

(Shouldn't that be "I Killed him, Horatio"?)

by **tony ingram** Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:51 pm

Very definitely Horatio Venomm (whose real name, incidentally, was Horatio. To be precise, Horatio Walters). Don McGregor's Black Panther series has really never been bettered, IMO.

by Lucy Ingram Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:19 pm

Philip K Ditko wrote:(Shouldn't that be "I Killed him, Horatio"?)

You're quite right! It's amazing how often that line from Hamlet gets misquoted.

by **tony ingram** Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:36 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:
Philip K Ditko wrote:(Shouldn't that be "I Killed him, Horatio"?)
You're quite right! It's amazing how often that line from Hamlet gets misquoted.

Do you actually expect a psychopath in a living alien spider suit to be accurate in his quotations?

by Philip K Ditko Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:38 pm

I knew Venomm's first name was Horatio but completely missed that coincidence. I agree with you about McGregor's Panther. I thought Priest's later run was pretty decent too. Marvel really messed up by cancelling Jungle Action in the middle of McGregor's Klan storyline to make way for Kirby, then finishing it years later without Don. It's also a shame that he didn't get to do Panther's Vows after Panther's Prey. T'Challa should have married Monica Lynne not Storm. And I wish Marvel would let McGregor and P Craig Russell do their graphic novel conclusion of Killraven, Final Battles, Final Lies, Final Truths. I hope McGregor's Sabre prequel with Trvor Von Eeden gets off the ground.

by **tony ingram** Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:44 pm

I would tend to agree with all of that (despite actually having quite liked Kirby's run). I never understood the whole Panther/Storm thing, which basically seemed like a huge and pointless retcon of both characters histories to invent a relationship that was never really there, just so that they could get their two most prominent black heroes married to each other.

by Lucy Ingram Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:47 pm

tony ingram wrote:Do you actually expect a psychopath in a living alien spider suit to be accurate in his quotations?

Yes! This is Shakespeare. It's important.

by Mbast1 Tue Jun 24, 2014 8:50 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:Yes! This is Shakespeare. It's important.

Damned straight! Despite Black Adder's ire, I love Shakespeare. I'm supposed to visit London in 2017, and I won't go unless I get to see a love production of a Shakespeare play at some point. At the Globe.

by Lucy Ingram Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:29 pm

Mind if I ask how you know three years in advance you're going to be going? Also, I applaud your taste.

by MajorHoy Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:39 pm

tony ingram wrote:Shazam (DCnU)

tony ingram wrote:
Sam_Vimes wrote:And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?
It's probably a reasonably safe assumption that he was designed for just such a purpose.

I'm sorry, but the New 52 version makes me think of
Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) 33450-5148-37352-1-prime

by Mbast1 Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:41 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:Mind if I ask how you know three years in advance you're going to be going? Also, I applaud your taste.

My girlfriend and I are 5 days apart in age, and that will be our 50th birthdays. (If we go within the right week, anyway). So, it's a plan. I don't like to fly, while she has been all over Europe, so we'll see...

Thanks. I'm also trying to think of other places I want to see. I watch a lot of British tv/movies, and read a lot of books in/about England, so I really need to decide what I want. But, the Shakespeare play is non-negotiable.

by Lucy Ingram Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:48 pm

Wow, that's so neat! Hope it works out for you guys. If you're a fan of Morse you could go to Oxford.

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:15 am

Lucy McGough wrote:Wow, that's so neat! Hope it works out for you guys. If you're a fan of Morse you could go to Oxford.

If he's got any sense, he could come and see the beauties of Suffolk. We have more antique shops in Suffolk than anywhere in the country, I believe.

by Lucy Ingram Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:56 am

Yeah, come to Suffolk! It's full of old stuff!

by Mbast1 Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:42 pm

tony ingram wrote:We have more antique shops in Suffolk than anywhere in the country, I believe.

That makes me think of Last of the Summer Wine, where the old lady tries to sell something to everyone from her "antique" shop...

by MajorHoy Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:46 pm

Let's try

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Dennis_the_Menace

Dennis the Menace

or

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Pr_Dennis_Menace

Dennis the Menace

by Mbast1 Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:46 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:Yeah, come to Suffolk! It's full of old stuff!

I take it London isn't?

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:52 pm

MajorHoy wrote:Let's try

Dennis the Menace

or

Dennis the Menace

Well, obviously I'm fgoing with our Dennis. For one thing, he actually was a menace (at least until recent years when he's basically been neutered by the political correctness brigade) unlike his wimpy blonde namesake!
naughty

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:54 pm

Mbast1 wrote:
Lucy McGough wrote:Yeah, come to Suffolk! It's full of old stuff!

I take it London isn't?

Luce isn't from London. She's from somewhere in the bleak northern wastes.

by Lucy Ingram Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:04 pm

British Dennis forever! Did they literally neuter him to stop him reaching puberty??? Poor thing!

And I am not from the bleak northern wastes. I am from the more sophisticated and intelligent half of the country, i.e. the upper half.

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:08 pm

I am reliably informed that there is no intelligent life north of the Wash.

by Lucy Ingram Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:14 pm

Go up to Glasgow and say that. You'll get yer heid kicked in! Twisted Evil

by Mbast1 Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:18 pm

tony ingram wrote:he actually was a menace

Sort of a miniature Frankie Boyle?

Ok, so now, I want to know more about him. Ugh. No time!

by Mbast1 Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:19 pm

tony ingram wrote:I am reliably informed that there is no intelligent life north of the Wash.

Uh, the Ninth Doctor was from "The North".

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:56 pm

Mbast1 wrote:
tony ingram wrote:he actually was a menace

Sort of a miniature Frankie Boyle?

Ok, so now, I want to know more about him. Ugh. No time!

http://britishcomics.wikia.com/wiki/Dennis_the_Menace

by **tony ingram** Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:58 pm

Mbast1 wrote:
tony ingram wrote:I am reliably informed that there is no intelligent life north of the Wash.

Uh, the Ninth Doctor was from "The North".

I rest my case.

by Lucy Ingram Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:24 pm

Mbast1 wrote:Sort of a miniature Frankie Boyle?

Yes, but with fewer jokes about disabled children, IIRC.

tony ingram wrote:I rest my case.

Get lost (she said, eloquently) Razz

by Mbast1 Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:24 am

Lucy McGough wrote:Yes, but with fewer jokes about disabled children, IIRC.

I must have missed that one. I'm still watching him on Mock The Week, where I find him funny.

by **tony ingram** Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:35 am

Mbast1 wrote:
Lucy McGough wrote:Yes, but with fewer jokes about disabled children, IIRC.

I must have missed that one. I'm still watching him on Mock The Week, where I find him funny.

He can sometimes stray over the line. He's something of an acquired taste, I think.

by Lucy Ingram Thu Jun 26, 2014 9:43 am

Yes, but I wish he was still on Mock the Week. They got rid of him 'cos he made an off-colo(u)r joke about the Queen, which I think was a shame. It's not been the same since he left.

by MajorHoy Thu Jun 26, 2014 2:57 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:Yes, but I wish he was still on Mock the Week. They got rid of him 'cos he made an off-colo(u)r joke about the Queen, which I think was a shame. It's not been the same since he left.

I'm not familiar with the chap in question, but is that what really happened or what people assume happened?

Wikipedia* lists some interesting sticky-wickets he was apparently involved in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Boyle#Controversy

* And I would not be caught dead in a pink suit! Shocked

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) FrankieBoyleLiveDVD

by Lucy Ingram Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:32 pm

I think that's pretty much what happened. It was either that or the joke about Rebecca Adlington.

by Philip K Ditko Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:19 pm

MajorHoy wrote:
tony ingram wrote:Shazam (DCnU)

tony ingram wrote:
Sam_Vimes wrote:And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?
It's probably a reasonably safe assumption that he was designed for just such a purpose.
I'm sorry, but the New 52 version makes me think of

I always thought Prime looked like the Son of Satan if he'd traded in his pitchfork for some steroids. Norm Breyfogle should have stuck to drawing Batman.
Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Son-of-satan1

Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) Son-of-satan1

Shazam's hooded cape reminds me of Modred the Mystic.
Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread) 108094-197735-modred-the-mystic

by Lucy Ingram Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:34 pm

Dear Lord, the dialogue. "Stand you back"... Rolling Eyes

by **tony ingram** Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:43 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:Dear Lord, the dialogue. "Stand you back"...

That is classic Marvel shorthand for "I've been around a long time". All characters who have lived for centuries speak in cod Shakespearean English. Even if they're Norse deities. It's well known.

by Lucy Ingram Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:46 pm

But, but, but... the word 'you' is totally unnecessary in that sentence Sad

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